(Here’s another fiction. Me as Mr.V’, a Software Professional traveling back to his home town after nearly ten years to meet all his relatives, childhood friends and eventually his (ex)girlfriend. )

My car’s speedo read 120 kms/hr. Cricket commentary running on my car radio. Heaviest rainfall of the season lashing and literally beating down. I was driving back to my hometown after a gap of 10 years.

“India, batting first are yet to lose a wicket with 2 runs on the board after the completion of 1 over.” the commentator announced.

Well, it has been ten years since I last visited my town, ten years since I visited my relatives, ten years since I watched a movie in one of those movie tents and ten long years since I met my girlfriend. She is married now but I can’t somehow muster to say ‘ex-girlfriend’. But wait, none of us could express it to one another , so it was more a kind of vandalism(on my part atleast). Every time I made up my mind to express my love I would put it off with the fear of losing her even as a friend, which eventually landed me into a mess in my life. What foolish people we were……!! Nowadays I get paranoid about her with questions such as -if she had ever loved me or if she ever had such feelings for me. I had always had this assumption that she loved me as much as I did. It definitely appeared so.

“India score 60 for the loss of 2 wickets after 10 overs.” The rain was incessantly pouring down. My car’s wipers were wiping in full swing. Still zooming away I was……………

I still can’t forget the day of her marriage. I sort of repent attending the wedding. It was such a painful thing to be there. How could she not realize my love. I just couldn’t accept that it was a mistake on my part not to convey my love. But why didn’t she do the same??. Anyways, I never visited nor talked to her after that. I realized that my worst fears had come true. Amidst all this I also had this filmi feeling that she should stay happy wherever she was and I should never tell her about my feelings that were towards her.

“India score 140 after the completion of 25 overs with the loss of 3 wickets.” Not bad, I thought. Still raining………….

All the fun we had together, all the wonderful sweets she used to prepare for me, all the never-ending conversations we had, all secret meetings during festivals and all the stares we exchanged during classes, oh how can I forget all those feelings of inchoate love. She had an unforgettable winsome smile. What’s heartening is that there was this innocence in our relationship. I realize that now after I witnessed so many break ups in my present place, a city. Life’s different in a city. And I’m not spared too in the change of lifestyles. SIMPLE and COMPLICATED are two words to describe life in a village/town and a city respectively. Anyway, I was ambivalent if I have to meet her after a long gap or not. And moreover the main difference of now she being married. I was on tenterhooks. I actually wasn’t really looking forward to it.

“India score 270 for 8 after their quota of 50 overs. Target set is 271.” The score’s ‘okey-dokey’ I said to myself. The rain reduced to a drizzle now…….

I now entered my town, came across my primary school building, which hadn’t changed an iota since my school days. With the dilemma of whether to meet her or not and after more than 2 hours of ‘mind contemplation’ I concluded that I would pass by the street where she stays and if I find her I would talk to her or else ‘forget it’. It was hard cheese for me. I entered the street and proceeded dead slow, recognized her home and had a glance over it and even passed it after finding no one. Just when I thought she wasn’t there, I heard a loud female voice calling me by name. I looked back, it was her hurrying towards me from her small garden. I stopped and got down my car. She came running, she looked so excited to see me after almost a decade, she almost hugged me when she suddenly came back to senses and enquired- “ How are you? Where had you been all these days? I’m so happy to see you today….” With few more of such enquiries and not so realistic replies from both sides, I decided I must move on. I get quite sensitive and emotional during such circumstances. I had a nettlesome feel in me which I experienced for the first time in my life. A feel of pain and happiness at the same time. Pain that she wasn’t mine and happiness for she was settled happily.I said – “I have to leave now. I’ll see you some other time.” rather bluntly and got back into my car.

“India lose the match convincingly. Life becomes very difficult for them after this disastrous series. ” said the commentator. How is my life different , I thought…

Just as I brought the car to ignition, she came close to me and asked rather softly – “On the day of my marriage I observed you being so dull and depressed. And when I came to talk to you, your face and body totally drenched in the rain, why did you just go away? ”

My answer was simple- “It wasn’t only the rain which had drenched my face that day…”

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additions to the crap:

i must say this was the best post of ur page buddy.. actually there was a change in ur style in ur prev post and u are back now.. and the cricket updates in the middle jus made me rush jus to get to the story.. good going buddy..

wow ari...an emotional and a sensitive post i must say..it kinda hurt me am a bit disturbed now...ges i gt too involved with the post..but then again thats ur style...ur way of writting always gets me in to the feel and mood....amazing work and like every movie will have songs and comedy inbtwn ur post has the cricket commentary...nice buddyy

the last line seems perfect for a blockbuster hindi movie dude!quite emotional.. and engaging... well done!i noticed that u have a style of describing the surroundings as a metaphor of the story itself..i really like this way of expression... though sometimes it sounds forced, but most of the times, it easily blends with the story and takes it to another level.. good going!

Great post buddy! as mentioned by others the last line was the highlight! and ya.. it seems to b a mixed bag.. the appearance is gud too.. maybe choosing a better colour style for ur blog wud make it even better.. :)

Thanks for the comment...I've added the commentary in an attempt to make it an attractive and an unique read....I know many ppl dint like it...And just for ur information , I haven't read Chetan bhagath till date...though i want to read it...

Wow. Once again a nice post dude!! But but, i feel you shouldn't have revealed the fiction part at the start.It wud've been a more intresting read and given a life to those last lines which was simply amazing.

Apart frm that, Good use of words and ur writing style is attractive. and the theme. we rock.(i too have the same!! lol ;)

Nice...I suppose this is the best post ive read on your blog..I like the way you progresses...and atleast I say balls to everyone who say that cricket commentary was shyt..I think they cannot even relate to it..but I did..even if you didn't mean it while writing..But I definitely made it out :)

hhmm...of all the "fiction" i've read in ur blog, i believe this is the only one whr u haven't tried to punch in a little humor! and that's a gr8 thing...the mood/setting was just perfect for the story...very subtle :)